Joe Wilkinson will put talk of a new Huddersfield Town contract on the back burner to focus on skippering the Under 21s to Professional Development League II play-off success.
Frankie Bunn’s Town youngsters head to Swansea City for a one-off final showdown on Wednesday (7.30).
Centre-back Wilkinson, who says he’s excited by Town’s offer of a new deal, featured in the 3-1 home Under 21 league win over the Swans in March.
He accepts it will be tough on Welsh soil, but insists Town have what it takes to seal victory.
While it’s the club’s first play-off final appearance at this age level, Wilkinson and a number of his teammates were involved in last year’s Under 18 final win over Crewe Alexandra at the John Smith’s Stadium.
“We also played QPR in the Under 18 final at Loftus Road in 2013,” explained the Dewsbury-based 19-year-old, who made a first-team debut in last month’s home Championship draw with Blackburn Rovers.
“Those games have given us great experience, so we have an idea of what it will feel like to run out at the Liberty Stadium.
“Obviously they will have a number of fans backing them, and we know they are a decent side who like to play passing football.
“But we have had a good league campaign (Town finished runners-up to Nottingham Forest in PDL II North).
“And we came through a tough semi-final at Crystal Palace, so we will go to Swansea in good spirits.
“Like all games, we will prepare thoroughly with an overnight stay.
“We’ve put in a lot of hard work on the training field and we all want to see the job through.”
Town’s Under 21 team has been in existence for three seasons and made the play-off semi-finals in both 2013 and 2014.
Coach Bunn, the father of Town first teamer Harry, previously coached at Wigan Athletic, Manchester City and Coventry City.
As a striker, he turned out for Luton Town, Hull City and Oldham Athletic.
